Doesn't Remind Me
Summary: AU, WiP: What would've happened if Severus Snape had choose a different path and proved is loyalty to the one who trusted him when no one else did?
Category: Angst/Drama.
Rating: PG-13 to R. For safety, deals with violence and suicidal themes.
Notes: My longest chapter of yet, which is why it took so long for me to update. I wanted this chapter to be perfect because it deals with a lot of issues and questions. This is my favourtie chapter so far. The next update might not be for a while because I actually have to start doing my h/w now seeing as school might be back in session on Monday. Also, I have no idea how the Fidelius Charm actually works so I just sort of made it up. I hope you like this chapter, I put a whole lot of work in it for you guys! LoL, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, if I did I'd be rich and not writing fanfics, now would I? Sue me if you wish but the only thing you'll get out of it is my pointe shoes because it's the only thing I've ever bought in my life. Anything recognizable is credited to J.K. Rowling anything unrecognizable can be credited to me, understood? Good. Now I'm going to shut-up so you can read the story!
Ch. 7 - The Poison
Early the next morning, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry made is way down the silent corridors. His destination, the hospital wing. Where he was fully prepared to be told that his long-time friend and reformed Death Eater had died during the night.
It was, however, to Albus Dumbledore's complete shock, that when he parted the curtain hiding his friend that he could clearly see the slow rising and fallen movement of the man's chest.
He was not dead.
This revelation startled the old wizard. And as shocked as he was he still managed to bless the stars, the sun, the moon, and every other living thing he could think of, that had allowed the person laying before him to survive the night.
"I see you've come," Madame Pomfrey said, pushing her way through the storage door with a tray of potions and food.
Dumbledore just nodded. He couldn't bring himself to speak, unless it somehow would reverse the miracle that had just happened.
"A bit shocked?" Pomfrey questioned with a laugh, "I was too when I woke up," she set the tray down beside the bed, "It's a miracle. This man here," she pointed at Snape for emphasize, "is the luckiest man I know. He has knocked on death's door too many times for my liking, but yet still manages to make it out alive. Someone, somewhere, wants him to stay alive."
"So," Dumbledore started, still shocked, "does that mean he will live?"
"Oh no, I can't promise anything yet. But the first twenty-four hours are the most critical. And it looks like he's going to make it through just fine. Not to get your hopes up or anything. He could still make a drastic turn for the worse, but I doubt it. He will, unfortunately, have some permanent injuries. His sight being the main one, and the curse cast on his arm."
"Did you figure out what that curse was?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"I believe it to be the same one cast on your hand. The only difference being that the one cast on your hand was dealt with almost immediately, Severus' was not. It's been steadily getting worse for, I'd say around a week. If it had not been stopped yesterday it would've killed him by now. It had almost reached his heart. As of now it had just started to attack his lung before I managed to stop it, or slow it. I'd be better of saying "slow" not "stop" as we both know the only way to stop this curse is to kill the man who cast it."
"How long does -"
"Oh don't worry," Pomfrey interrupted, "it will be at least fifteen years before it reaches his heart and kills him. Unfortunately it will forever cause him pain to move his arm. It's done a wonderful job of destroying the muscles and tissues, and even attacked part of the nerve system, of his arm and shoulder, and part of his lung. I'm afraid that anything extremely active may be harder for him to do."
"And there's nothing -"
"It's the same curse as the one on your hand Albus. Have you already forgotten that your hand has also not yet been cured?" Pomfrey said with a smile.
"But you, and Severus, both said I would die from age before the curse killed me," Dumbledore replied, slightly confused.
"Well, yes. But Albus, you are much older than Severus and the curse was caught much earlier. It would take over a hundred years for the curse to make it all the way up your arm."
"Yes, yes, that makes sense," Dumbledore muttered.
Pomfrey shook her head, amused, "I see you have yet to get over the shock. Here," she conjured up a chair behind the Headmaster, "sit. It is still a while until breakfast."
Dumbledore nodded and sat down in the offered seat. He took to intently watching the rise and fall of Severus' chest, as if he stopped watching the chest would stop rising.
"Headmaster?" Pomfrey whispered.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied, sounding tired and worn.
"Is something wrong? Is there something you wish to speak of?"
Dumbledore looked up at the trusted doctor, noticing that she was also sitting and intently watching someone, only that someone was not Snape, but him.
"It's just that," Dumbledore paused, searching for the right words, "It's just that it's such a, a horrible thing to do, even for Voldemort. Especially for Severus. For him to forget so much, it's going to be devastating for him."
"Well, I'd imagine it would be," Pomfrey replied, "Five years is a lot of memory to lose."
"Pomfrey, "Dumbledore whispered, bringing his eyes down to look at Severus' pale face, "promise me you won't tell Severus, or anyone else, what I'm about to tell you."
"Of course," Pomfrey replied without hesitation, "I promise."
"I believe, though I dearly hope I'm wrong, that Severus has lost more memory then just the past five years. A Memory Charm strong enough to erase five years of someone's memory at one time is almost unheard of. And because of that I believe that many of Severus' earlier memories, say from his childhood at Hogwarts, and even the beginning of his Death Eater days, may also be gone. In fact, I am almost certain of it. Tom Riddle was never good at directing his Memory Charms. He could produce powerful Charms but he was never able to master the delicate skill of being able to choose the memories wished to be erased. As a result, I fear that he just cast the most powerful Memory Charm he could, with no regard for the memories he erased. I don't believe he even cared for he just believed Severus was to be killed anyway."
Madame Pomfrey stared, mouth wide, at the Headmaster, clearly shocked at what she had just be told, "But wizards who lose a lot of their memories usually -"
"End up going insane," Dumbledore finished, "I know. I fear that the Severus Snape who wakes up from this is not going to be the Severus Snape we've known for the past many years."
The two sat in silence, watching the man before them, watching him struggle for life.
"How long will it be until he wakes up?" Dumbledore asked softly.
"I don't know," Pomfrey replied with a shrug, "He could wake up in an hour or in a couple days. But when he wakes I will send for you."
Dumbledore nodded, and without another word, he stood up and left the hospital wing.
Day after day, for over a week, Dumbledore would visit the hospital wing to be greeted by the same sight. The only difference would be that other beds might be occupied with students who had not been there the day before. Also, security at the hospital wing had to be heightened because it seemed many of the students could not help but try to see their professor in such a vulnerable state, as they called it.
It was, however, exactly eleven days later, on a lovely Thursday morning, when Severus Snape woke up, in quite the fashion. Dumbledore was sitting at the Head Table, enjoying his breakfast after, yet again, visiting the hospital wing and after, yet again, being greeted by the same sight.
But halfway through his meal, and with some of the students just getting ready to leave for their morning classes, the doors to the Great Hall burst open and in hurried a very frantic Madame Pomfrey who shouted, quite loudly, "He's missing!"
Dumbledore quickly stood up, "May I inquire as to who is missing Madame Pomfrey?" he questioned calmly.
"Severus sir! I swear I am going to kill that man! He wakes up and then proceeds, without telling anyone, to just leave! He is in no state to be anywhere BUT the hospital wing! Wizards don't get sick often but Severus' body can not defend against even the most simplest cold right now! And I'm not going to have the man miraculously survive being tortured to near death to die from a simple cold because he is too damn stubborn and proud to stay in the hospital wing! If a cold doesn't kill him than I am going to KILL HIM MYSELF!"
"Silence," Dumbledore demanded, and the students stopped their muttering immediately, "Everyone is too stay in the Great Hall until further notice. McGonagall, Pomfrey, if you please, follow me. I have a feeling I know exactly where are missing professor is."
And with that the Headmaster left his seat, followed closely by McGonagall, and the two joined Madame Pomfrey. The students watched the three professors leave the Great Hall, slightly shocked at this new development, and burst into excited chatter as the door closed.
Dumbledore lead his two professors down the corridors and into the dungeons of Hogwarts.
"Headmaster, may I ask where we are going?" Pomfrey muttered, clearly angry at Severus managing to escape her care and leave the hospital wing unnoticed.
"To Severus' office." Dumbledore replied, as if all this was just a pleasant talk over tea and that nothing dramatic was happening at all.
"I highly doubt he would go there," Pomfrey muttered bitterly, "He knows we would look there first. And even if he is there then he's probably done something to prevent us from getting in there."
"I must disagree with you Madame," Dumbledore said with a small smile, "Severus has just had much of his memory erased, he would go immediately to the place he felt the safest, the most recognizable place. And it also seems you have forgotten another small detail, Severus no longer has a wand so he could not impose any protection upon his office that could prevent us from getting into it. Also, any protection put in place in Hogwarts, if not done directly by the Headmaster, can easily be reversed by the Headmaster."
"He has no wand? Where is it?" McGonagall whispered.
"Well, I'm quite confident that Voldemort has destroyed it. So it seems he his going to just have to get another one, which might prove somewhat difficult."
The three lapsed into silence for a few minutes until Dumbledore spoke again, sounding more worried this time, "Now, we don't know what state Severus is in. I'm sure we all know what can happen to someone who has their mind tampered with in such a way, so be prepared for anything and everything. We don't know what Severus will do or how he will act, please be cautious in what you say and do. I'm quite sure that none of us want to have to do something drastic to contain Severus."
The other two nodded in a silent response and all that could be heard for the next few minutes were the swishing of robes and the thud of feet hitting stone floor. Finally, they came upon the door to Severus Snape's office and sounds of someone moving around could be heard from within. Dumbledore raised his hand and knocked three times, the sounds suddenly stopped.
"Come in," came the whispered response from behind the door. Dumbledore pushed the door open and the three entered to a sight of utter destruction.
"Severus," Dumbledore whispered, scanning the room. Books were everywhere, the shelves emptied. Potions lay strewn everywhere, broken bottles and spilled containers covered the floor, "May I ask what you are doing?"
Severus Snape place both hands on his desk and hung his head, breathing in heavily he replied, "I've lost everything."
"You have not lost everything Severus," Dumbledore said, fear and concern colouring his voice, "I understand that you are confused, distraught even, and that you want answers to questions that I don't know if I can answer."
"DO NOT TELL ME YOU UNDERSTAND!" Severus screamed, whipping his head up to stare at his Headmaster. After taking a couple of deep breaths the man seemed to contain himself somewhat and he continued, in a more civil tone, "When you have had over half your memory erased you can come to me and tell me you understand! Until then don't even begin to think you understand!" He turned around and started pacing, with a noticeable limp in his right leg, "You know what's worse?" he whispered, barely audible, "I don't even know what I've forgotten. I can't even remember how much I've forgotten, or if I've even forgotten anything! It's so, so FRUSTRATING! There's times when I know I've lost memory, like the last five years, but there's times I don't even know if I've lost my memory. There's time from my childhood that I think I've lost memories but I don't know. I don't know ANYTHING!" Severus leaned his back against the wall behind his desk and rubbed his tired eyes with his right hand, "My dad died when I was twelve," he continued, almost losing control of his emotions, "and I can't even remember his name, or what he looked like, or who he was, or even how he died. I can only remember that it was my fault. And the only thing I remember about my mom is her telling me that it WAS my fault. I can only remember ONE FUCKING CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF MY PARENTS!"
"Severus," Dumbledore whispered, sadness in his usually sparkling eyes.
"SHUT-UP!" Severus screamed, grabbing his head with both arms and sliding down the wall into a sitting position. The fire, burning brightly in the fireplace beside him, burned his skin. The man stared at the floor, shutting his eyes closed. He brought his head forward, still clutching onto it with both hands, then brought it back quickly, and the loud crack of scull hitting stone rang throughout the small room.
Within seconds Albus Dumbledore was kneeling in front of Severus Snape and had both of the man's wrists in his own hands, "Look at me Severus," Dumbledore whispered. Severus looked up and saw the same grief that was on his own face mirrored in his friends.
"Trust me when I say this Severus," Dumbledore began, "You can make it through this. Lesser men have stumbled and fallen at such an obstacle. And I'm sure you will stumble and I'm sure you will fall, but your friends are going to be right there to pick you up, whether you like it or not," he added with a small smile, "If there is anytime in your life that you choose to let those around you help you, this would be the perfect time. You may not be able to regain your memories but that does not make you a failure or any lesser of a man. If anything, this proves that you are even stronger then anyone could ever think. You must believe in yourself Severus, and you must, for I believe the first time in your life, trust yourself to others if you wish to make it through this." Severus nodded, tears threatening to spill out of his eyes.
"Now, do you mind answering my first question?" Dumbledore asked, and when met with a confused look from Severus he continued, "What are you doing? Or I guess it's now, what were you doing?"
Severus sighed, and with his right hand he rubbed the tears that had managed to escape his barrier and trace a path down his cheeks, "I was looking."
"For what?" Dumbledore prodded.
"I don't know." It was now Dumbledore's turn to look confused.
"You mean to tell me you're looking for something but you don't actually know what it is you're looking for."
"Correct." When Severus was met with a stunned silence from his friend he smiled, shook his head slightly, and continued, "I believe, though I have no memory of this, that I would never have been as stupid to serve two years, or however long it was, as Voldemort's spy without somehow recording what I learned down. The only problem is I have no idea what I recorded down or how I recorded it. But I know that I would've known that the first thing that would've happened if I was found as a spy would be that my memory would be erased. And that seems to be proven true."
"But you don't actually remember recording anything, do you?" Dumbledore asked.
"No," Severus replied, frustrated, "But I know I would have. Because I know that there would have been things that I would not have been able to tell you for fear of Voldemort using Legilimency against me and finding out that I was a spy."
"And you came to this conclusion, how?"
"With my brain Albus. It's not completely destroyed or useless."
Dumbledore stood and offered his hand to help Severus stand but Severus pushed it away and instead focused on something that had caught his attention. Something on the floor by his desk, something that just wasn't quite right. He shifted his body around and crawled the few feet to the desired spot.
"Severus..." Dumbledore questioned, before noticing the same thing that Severus had noticed. Quickly the Headmaster walked to the same spot and kneeled down on one knee. He pointed his wand at the oddly coloured section of the floor and muttered, "Alohomora." The mysterious spot on the floor seemed to shift slightly and a small hole, no bigger then the width of someone's finger, appeared. Snape place his index finger in the whole and pulled, a small door opened up and in the hidden chamber was a collection of small books.. All the books were labeled with a number and neatly stacked, in three stacks according of different colours. Severus Snape reached down and grabbed the book on the top of the pile of black books, the book labeled '1.' Severus looked up at Dumbledore and the Headmaster nodded, answering the silent question.
Severus opened the book and saw his messy handwriting covering the very first page. He began reading it out loud for everyone to hear, "This is Severus Snape and I'm writing this now in hopes of helping those who are fighting against the Dark Lord if such unfortunate circumstances arise that I cannot be of help, either because I have died or my memory has been erased. In the black books you will find my recordings of everything that has happened since I became a Death Eater that has to do with the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord, the first entry being in 1981, when I first became a teacher at Hogwarts, and which has recollections of all I can remember. The other entries will have to do with other Death Eaters as I keep in contact with them throughout the Dark Lord's fall. And in the case that the Dark Lord rises once again, and my position as a spy is reinstated, then the entries will consist of detailed descriptions of the Death Eater meetings and any information that has to do with any of the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. I choose to do this because I know that if the Dark Lord rises again I will not be able to tell Dumbledore, or any of his followers, everything that I know, it would be too risky and it would put my life and my position on the line. And such risks can't be taken in wars, as I have learned too many times in the past years.
"The green books will have all my recordings on my potion work. As a result, I'm quite sure that out of all the books I will have the most green books. The green books will also have recordings regarding any spells, curses, or counter-curses that I may wish to write down for memory's sake.
"The blue books will be my own journal. I ask that the only person who read the blue books be Albus Dumbledore. If I have only lost my memory then it is up to me to decide whether I allow Dumbledore to read the blue books or not. In any case, the blue books are nothing but my emotions on the events of whatever day I happen to have the urge to write. It may not make sense and it may not be of any help to anyone should I die. But it is there, mainly for myself incase my memory is erased and I wish to try and remember more about what was recorded in the other books."
"Well," Dumbledore said after a long silence, "It seems you have found the unknown you were searching for. I'm assuming you would wish to read these books."
"Take the black ones."
"But surely you would want -"
"Albus, take the black ones, read them. When you are done then I will read them. They will be of far more use to you instead of me because you understand what is going on and I have no idea anymore."
"Severus -"
"Albus, just take them."
"Very well," Dumbledore caved in, and with a flick of his wand all the black books disappeared and reappeared on Albus' desk, quite a few floors above where he was currently standing.
With another flick of his wand the rest of the books, green and blue, levitated and where placed neatly on Severus' desk.
"Now Albus, sir," Madame Pomfrey spoke up for the first time, "Is Severus ready to return to the hospital wing?"
Snape grasped Dumbledore's offered hand and gingerly stood up.
"I don't believe that Severus will be returning to the hospital wing," Dumbledore said, smiling.
"What! Albus, are you insane! Severus needs to be in the hospital wing. It's too dangerous for him here!"
"It's physically too dangerous for Severus to be here, I think it's mentally too dangerous for Severus to stay at the hospital wing. It goes against the very person Severus is, doesn't it?" Dumbledore finished with a question to Snape, "Would you rather stay here or at the hospital wing?"
"Here," Severus answered without hesitation, "Definitely here."
"Well, then that matters settled. Don't worry Pomfrey," Dumbledore began before the school doctor could interrupt, "Severus' chambers will be opened to you to come and go as you wish until you find that Severus is well enough to be left alone. With that said," Dumbledore turned to face Severus, "You, Severus, will have to eat and drink everything that Pomfrey tells you too, and you shall rest when she tells you too, and you shall not over exert yourself until she says you are able to do so. If I hear of any nonsense about you refusing to do what is good for you then I will be forced to place you back in the hospital wing where Madame Pomfrey will be able to watch you constantly. We all know you are too stubborn for your own good but please, just listen to Pomfrey for once this time." Severus nodded in response, realizing that no amount of arguing was going to get him out of this situation.
"McGonagall," Dumbledore continued, "will you please go back to the Great Hall and tell the students and teachers to start their morning classes. And Pomfrey, will you please go to the hospital wing and gather whatever potions that Severus here will need to take for the next few days. I believe Severus has something he wishes to speak to me about, alone."
Professor McGonagall nodded and left quickly while Madame Pomfrey glared at both Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, clearly annoyed at the two of them, then turned on her heals and left.
Severus stared at Dumbledore in shock, "How did you know?"
"Severus, your mind has been through trauma and your Occlumency skills are nothing but non-existent at the moment," Dumbldore answered, "Here," he flicked his wand and a small pile of Severus' clothes appeared on the desk, neatly place beside the books already there, "I'm quite sure you'll want to change out of the hospital wing's clothes."
Severus nodded and mumbled, "Thanks." The Headmaster turned around so his back faced his friend to allow him the necessary privacy to change clothes.
"Albus?"
"Yes Severus," Dumbledore turned around to face the now changed Professor Snape, "Ah, much better, don't you think?"
Severus nodded, smiling just a little before his face turned somber again, "What happened to Draco? Surely you did not -"
"Do not worry Severus, Draco and his mother are both quite safe at the moment. Though Narcissa is very displeased with everything that has recently occurred. They are currently protected here in Hogwarts by the Fidelius Charm."
"Can I-"
"See them?" Dumbledore finished, "I thought you would wish to talk to them. After all, it is because of them you are now in the condition you are in. Follow me if you will."
Dumbledore turned and walked quickly out of the room and Snape fell in step beside him. They walked in silence, Dumbledore leading them on a very confusing path of turns and doors. Before long they had reached an area of the school so far down in the dungeons that Dumbledore had to cast a Lumos charm because there were no candles lining the walls.
They reached what seemed to be a dead end and Dumbledore flicked his wand, stopping the Lumos charm and the corridor went pitch black. Snape could hear the Headmaster muttering under his breath but he could not understand what he was saying. After a few tense minutes light returned to the corridor and a door had now appeared in the solid wall.
"Now, they both don't have their wands so you don't have to worry about them taking this chance to kill you. As I'm sure you could guess, Narcissa tried to kill every person who had gone to retrieve her to bring her here."
Severus nodded and watched Dumbledore push the door open and he followed quickly behind him, knowing that has soon has the door was shut it would become invisible once again. He was met by the sight of a small room, with sofas, chairs, a table, a small kitchen, and three doors that he assumed lead to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Someone had taken the time to make this place as comfortable as possible.
Narcissa looked up when she heard the door open and gasped when she saw who had come in. She quickly stood up and stared in complete shock. She watched as Dumbledore retreated to a corner in the back of the room and Severus limped over to her. She stared at the person she had once called her friend, he looked horrible. His face was gaunt and paler them normal, he look emaciated. His one eye was black and alert, taking in all of his surroundings. The other a foggy grey colour and not focusing on anything. She saw that he hugged his left arm close to his body, as if it hurt him to move it. She looked down and saw that his left hand was black, withered, the skin looked like it had been burned off.
Draco sat up straighter in his chair, twisting his body around to get the full sight of the scene unfolding in front of him.
Narcissa clenched and unclenched her hands, staring into the eyes of Severus Snape as he stopped walking just feet in front of her. She took a step forward and slapped him, his head snapped to the sighed.
"How dare you! I trusted you! Lucius trusted you! We called you our FRIEND!" Narcissa was panting, her anger overwhelming her.
Severus slowly turned his head to face Narcissa once again, "I thought that you, of all people, would know not to trust a Death Eater."
"A Death Eater! How dare you call yourself that! You are a TRAITOR! You turned your back on the Dark Lord!"
"Are you not a traitor yourself? You did not return to Voldemort," Narcissa cringed at the name, "but instead chose to come to Hogwarts to be with your son."
"I came because I had too! Because I would've been killed otherwise! Dumbledore had to be killed or else Draco and I would be! Lucius trusted you, you were friends!"
"Friends? Friends with Lucius? In case you haven't noticed Narcissa, Lucius is one of the most manipulative bastards I have ever met. Are friendship stopped the day he ruined my life, the day he convinced me Voldemort would be able to give me everything I wanted. I wanted revenger, Lucius promised me Voldemort would help me get it. Do you know what I got instead? Do you!" Severus replied, his voice rising with his anger, "Of course you don't! Do you ever wonder why the men often carried out the raids separate from the woman? Did Lucius ever tell you that?"
"No, I don't know why and I don't care!" Narcissa replied, her anger reaching it's breaking point.
"Because," Snape continued in a near whisper, "the crimes we were forced to commit against the woman, the young children, would be unbearable for the female Death Eaters to watch. Did you know that your husband was always the first Death Eater to volunteer for such raids? Even after he married you, even after you had a child. That's what I got, not revenge, murder, murder and rape. I'm not a rapist, I never wanted to be one, and yet, funny enough, that's what I got. That's the life Lucius decided to give me. Don't get me wrong, it was not wholly his fault, I must take some of the blame for being so foolish enough to ever believe that I could get the revenge I so desired. I was blinded by my anger, my hate. Your husband saw this and used it against me, I played right into his hands. Like I said, his the most manipulative bastard I have, and ever will, meet."
The colour in Narcissa Malfoy's had drained, leaving her pale. Her anger had diminished somewhat, overtaken by shock.
"And I hope you know, that from the moment I set eyes on your son I knew you had condemned him to life of murder and treachery. I life where he would never be able to trust anyone. I life robbed of any emotions besides anger, hate, and revenge. Look at your son, look at what you've made him do. Then look at me. Do you want your son to turn out like me? Do you!"
Narcissa stared into Severus' eyes, "No," she replied, her tone icy and cold, "No one wants to end up like you."
Snape sneered, "You know he's going to end up right where I have. A traitor to both sides, trusted by no one but a select few. Hated by almost everyone. Deceived, lied to, used then thrown away like an old rag. Your son has talented, he still has a chance. Let him be the man he should be, not the man you want him to be. The dark side is not where he belongs. You have brainwashed him, forced your beliefs onto him. If your not careful he won't trust anyone, not even you. He'll turn his back on everyone, and everyone will turn their backs on him, just like me. Let him live, really live, not just exist as a pawn in a war where he doesn't belong, a war where he doesn't fit. If he keeps going like this he'll end up like me, alive but dead at the same time. Labelled a traitor, sent to Azkaban to live the rest of his pitiful days. Is that what you always wanted from your son?"
"Shut-up! I don't need to listen to you! Tell me Snape," she said his name with disgust, "How is it that you manage to live through so many failed missions? Through the Dark Lord's torture? How is it that you, out of all people, managed to break an Unbreakable Vow and live!"
Severus Snape's train of thought froze, shock overwhelmed him and looked over at his should at Dumbledore, who had stepped out from the shadows and was walking over to the two former friends.
"I made an Unbreakable Vow?" Snape whispered in confusion, "And I broke it? Why am I not dead?" He looked over at Dumbledore, who was now standing beside him.
"Narcissa, what did Severus vow to do?" Dumbledore quitely asked.
Narcissa looked from Severus to Albus, then back to Severus, "You don't remember? How can you not remember!"
"Narcissa," Severus began, "I've had over half my memory erased, including everything that has happened in the last five years."
Narcissa stared, mouth opened, "Half your memory?" she whispered in shock.
"Narcissa please," Dumbledore said, "What did Severus vow?"
Still in shock she replied, "He vowed to watch over Draco as he attempted to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes. He vowed to protect Draco to the best of his abilities. And he vowed, he vowed," she stammered, took a deep breath, and continued, "that, if Draco were to fail, he would carry out the deed the Dark Lord had ordered Draco to perform. That deed was to kill Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"But Dumbledore is not dead," Severus whispered, "And yet I am still alive." He turned his head to look at the Headmaster.
Dumbledore started pacing, deep in thought, "Perhaps," he thought out loud, "that the binder had not performed the bond properly?"
"It was my sister, Bellatrix. She would not have performed the bond improperly."
Dumbledore continued to pace for many minutes until finally he stopped and stared at the three other companions in the room. Draco had left his seat at the couch and was now standing beside his mother.
"Well, I believe this is the first time someone has ever broken the Unbreakable Vow and lived. Before now the longest person to live after breaking an Unbreakable Vow was seventeen days, with nine of those days laying in a bed, unable to move, simply waiting for death. Yet here we have a wizard who has broken the Vow and his now standing before us, I believe that it has been exactly thirty days since the Vow was broken. The only thing that I could think of that might be able to explain this amazing feet is that when Voldemort cast the Memory Charm on Severus Snape he removed much of his memory, including the memory of him making the Unbreakable Vow. As a result, I believe that since Severus no longer remembers making the Vow the Vow has lost it's power. Therefore he could not kill him because he didn't remember making it so it became like he had made nothing more than a simple promise."
"So, you're saying," Narcissa said, "That the Dark Lord cast a Memory Charm on Severus that turned out to save Severus' life instead of ruin it like he intended?"
"Correct," Dumbledore replied, "In casting the Memory Charm Voldemort rendered the Unbreakable Vow powerless. If he had not cast the Memory Charm and Severus had still escaped he would be dead by now. I can't be sure that this is the reason but it seems to be the only solution. And it also seems that Severus Snape has beaten the odds once again. You seem to be a walking miracle of late."
Severus looked from Dumbledore's smiling face, to Narcissa's shocked face, to Draco's haggard face, and back to Dumbledore's smiling face. He nodded at Dumbledore, turned to face Narcissa and Draco and nodded to them both, and then turned and followed Dumbledore out the door. He let it slam shut, leaving a shocked Narcissa to stare at the door that had disappeared behind the two wizards.